Taking Off 162. Horoscopes

TAKING OFF

by travel-expert José Berrocoso

Feel Like a Royal!

Colona Castle, a renaissance of a landmark is exquisitely transformed with contemporary comforts into a luxurious boutique hotel in South Africa, which combines luxury and intuitive service with breathtaking panoramic vistas of Table Mountain, Cape Town' s southern suburbs, Zandvlei Lake, False Bay and its beaches, the South Atlantic Ocean and the Winelands rugged mountains.

www.colonacastle.co.za

Colona Castle Hotel, Lakeside can easily be accessed from the city of Cape Town and the Cape Town International Airport while many of the Cape's sightseeing places are located nearby such as the penguin colony at Boulders Beach. The five-star hotel is in Lakeside which is one of Cape Town southern suburbs. This elegant retreat offers magnificent views of Table Mountain across the peninsula, bay and through to the ocean. The quaint fishing and harbour towns of Kalk Bay, Simonstown and Fish Hoek. This beautiful property with a Mediterranean flair offers a perfect base for exploration and relaxation. Honeymoons, small business groups, golfers, and families enjoy the boutique hotel's service, exceptional hospitality and gourmet cuisine. It’s not much of a castle, really, and not quite a manor house either — but Colona Castle’s name, in any case, puts the right sort of picture in your head. You don’t come to Cape Town for outrageous, cutting-edge design, but for the classic good life — traditional architecture, old-fashioned hospitality, and a natural setting that’s unparalleled in its beauty. Colona Castle is a Tuscan-style villa, an intimate eight-room hideaway, high on a hillside, affording panoramic views of the mountains, the lake district, Cape Town’s city lights and the Atlantic coastline. This is a peaceful place where you can relax on one of the patios in the summer, or cuddle up next to an open-hearth log fire in the winter. Enjoy a day on the sandy beaches of Muizenberg, or stroll through the 'arty' fishing village of Kalk Bay. The seven suites (and one cozy bedroom) all differ in style, leaving the Tuscan theme at the door — they range from safari-camp fantasy to British colonial to Indian or Moroccan, all united by the common threads of rich materials and contemporary clean lines. Hotel amenities are simple, fitting the small scale of this intimate villa hotel — there’s a pool deck, complete with stunning views, and a kitchen using the finest organic and local ingredients. Nearby you’ll find Sandviel Lake and the beaches at False Bay, four golf courses lie within a few miles, and the vineyards of the Winelands are just a day trip away.

The award-winning Executive Chef serves delicious meals which are a combination of high-quality organically grown ingredients. The candlelit dining hall at this Hotel makes for a beautiful dining setting. Alternatively, discerning visitors may enjoy a myriad of excellent restaurants in the vicinity. Take a drive to the centre of Cape Town to shop along the trendy Long Street or in the sophisticated V&A Waterfront, or visit the range of museums and galleries here. Alternatively, explore the scenic peninsula with a visit to the penguins at Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Wonderful leisure options include picturesque mountain or beach walks, water sports, whale watching. Golfers paradise with several world-class golf courses within convenient access. A special microclimate ensures that our weather is very pleasant all year round. With lesser rainfalls, Lakeside is usually warmer in winter and cooler in summer than surrounding areas. Alternatively, simply stay at the hotel and relax on the patio or request a spa treatment in the privacy of your room.